Road Cycling Essentials

[arknor]

I looking in to cycling to work, only a few road miles each way, but I don't really know what I should be looking for in a bike.

What would you guys say, as a beginner, I need?
I'm not planning on racing or anything like that, just the work commute.

Don't get a hybrid I wish I got a road bike but thought the leap from no bike > road bike was to much.

wind resistance in an upright riding position on a mountain/hybrid bike is awful!

I think everyone on here told me to get a road bike as well

 

[tedmaul]

And arknor, grow up a bit! It's a bit off bitching about people in this thread and then asking for help. To answer your question though, loosen the two stem bolts and tighten the top cap then tighten the stem bolts back up. If it's still got play then your headset is buggered.

Worth noting, when you tighten up the top cap, do it gently. It's quite easy to strip the thread, so you just want to snug it up so that there's no play, then re-tighten the stem bolts. Then you should be good to go (hopefully).

 

[Vonhelmet]

Just either ignore it or report it to a mod if you think it's out of order, there's no need to get so frustrated. I'm one to talk though - I asked to be banned from one of the sub-forums here because I found it so aggravating.

And ask whatever questions you have, this thread is generally really helpful and not nearly as cliquey as some of the other SA threads! Chances are at least one person has had the same problem at some point and can help you out.

I'm banned from gd, to save myself getting banned. Sc is bad enough.

 

[arknor]

Worth noting, when you tighten up the top cap, do it gently. It's quite easy to strip the thread, so you just want to snug it up so that there's no play, then re-tighten the stem bolts. Then you should be good to go (hopefully).

I only tightened it around half a turn , I'll road test it tomorrow when my garmin comes

thanks for the advice though

 

[uniQ]

Went out for the mid week club run. Did an epic descent hit 46.1mph & when it flattened out I held 41mph for 0.4mi until it started going back up. Awesome

Elapsed Time 00:00:26
Average Speed 41.8mi/h

 

[daveski]

Did 25:47 (iirc, will check when results are published) tonight.

My PB on that course on the final one of the season Hope I can carry some speed through the winter. http://www.strava.com/activities/76210142

 

[Shimmyhill]

44.03min commute this morning. 31.3kph average. Getting closer to that magic 20mph.

I squeaked that one on a commute home the other night, 32.5kph but only over 15km... still its a milestone! Pretty direct run for me with 6 roundabouts that i slowed for but never stopped and only a few sets of lights all in my favour!

The best bit is at times when i go for a nice slow commute im still getting the 15mph average i was chasing when i started commuting

 

[Shadowness]

I'm thinking of introducing a bit of interval training on some of my commutes.
Does anyone here do any IT?

 

[[DOD]Asprilla]

I'm thinking of introducing a bit of interval training on some of my commutes.
Does anyone here do any IT?

Yeah. I call them traffic lights and chasing RLJers.

I know a few folks who do, but we are lucky that we commute via Richmond Park so you can get a good run.

 

[[DOD]Asprilla]

Double post.

 

[ShiWarrior]

I'm banned from gd, to save myself getting banned. Sc is bad enough.

oh god

so im hanging out with all the idiots one man solo WANTS to be banned, and you are! lol

joking of course

 

[Womble]

Looking to get a cheap SS/Fixed commuter as don't really want to destroy my CAAD8 over the winter

Thinking about building something from the frame up - never done anything like this before, how much you reckon this can be done for and what should I look out for?

 

[VeNT]

something cheap on ebay?

 

[[DOD]Asprilla]

Looking to get a cheap SS/Fixed commuter as don't really want to destroy my CAAD8 over the winter

Thinking about building something from the frame up - never done anything like this before, how much you reckon this can be done for and what should I look out for?

Paging grudas to the thread......

 

[Disco Boy]

Looking to get a cheap SS/Fixed commuter as don't really want to destroy my CAAD8 over the winter

Thinking about building something from the frame up - never done anything like this before, how much you reckon this can be done for and what should I look out for?

Building something up for yourself almost never works out cheaper than buying a complete bike.

 

[Jonny ///M]

Mother of god! My boss decides at about 5pm to annoy me into to going to the club bunch training ride(APR style).

I drove home, ate one mule bar, stuck a bottle on and headed out. Got put in group 3 with group 4 being the scratch group.

I zig zagged home seeing stars a guy in group two said they averaged 22.5mph so we must have been sitting higher to close the 3 and a half minute gap.

Was gutted when a guy double punctured coming a descent which slowed me right up at the bottom of a hill in the big ring, essentially I got ****** right out the back and never caught back on but only had a mile to the finish thankfully.

Spinning a 52/12 and being less than 10 metres off the back of the bunch is heart breaking. Eventually did get back in the bunch and managed to hide and recover only get stuck behind the punctured guy as I said.

My full pedal in and out
http://www.strava.com/activities/76243835

The ride route
http://www.strava.com/activities/76243835#1523669503

 

[chanjy]

Wow! Great effort mate. Especially after work with no food!

 

[touch]

Mother of god! My boss decides at about 5pm to annoy me into to going to the club bunch training ride(APR style).

Well done jonny. Its a horrible feeling to be only just off the back but completely unable to get back on. I was racing with your boss again a couple of weekends ago in Falkirk. I had a tough time and got dropped but I think he stayed with the bunch.
Won't be long until he gets you to enter a few races as well?

 

[Jonny ///M]

That's his plan lol.

I've said within 5 years when I have a flat to myself or with the gf.

He did the braes of Greenock and the davie bell at the weekend. That sounded horrific.

It was the first time doing through and off too. The 9.15 run before we had two on the front and taking spells as requested. Nobody had said it was through and off, got told off twice for going a bit too hard on the front rather than easing up. Finally settled down after working that and getting told 'you're raping wee man'....

It was once we caught the slower group I went straight to the front after falling back a bit on a steep climb. Worst feeling ever when you get to the front and Greig brown charges past shouting get on....never going to happen.

It stayed together but the bunch was massive, almost daunting really. I couldn't really tell what was happening and didn't want to just head up the front to get stuck there...ended up at the back but not realising when the last man went past I think.

It was steven lawley who's wheel I was sitting on when he punctured. I think I would have made it back in but I could well have just chucked it at the top of the last climb.

I'd certainly do it again and maybe have more then a tesco pasta pot and a mule bar in me. 4th cat races scare me with all the crashes though

 

[uniQ]

Mother of god! My boss decides at about 5pm to annoy me into to going to the club bunch training ride(APR style).

Best boss ever?